Anti-pollution exhaust burner and muffler for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

Anti-pollution control especially relevant to internal combustion engines involves producing intense consuming heat in a combustion tube, delivering engine exhaust gases into preheating relation to the outside of the tube wall, directing the preheated exhaust gases into the tube and therein subjecting the gases to the consuming heat and effecting complete combustion of combustible material entrained in the gases, and finally receiving the completely burned out exhaust gases from the tube in an expansion and muffle chamber and releasing them to atmosphere.

llnit States Ptent Arnold Sept. 17, 1974 [5 ANTI-POLLUTION EXHAUSTBURNER AND 3,549,333 12/1970 Tabak 23/277 c FL OR INTERNAL CO O3,581,490 6/1971 Morris....., 23/288 F X ENGINES 3,603,080 9/1971McCrockhn 23/277 C 3,645,093 2/1972 Thomas 23/277 C X [76] Inventor:Harold E. Arnold, 1332 E. Samuel 3,690,840 9/1972 Volker 23/277 C St.,Peoria Heights, II]. 61614 Primary Examiner-Barry S. Richman [22] Flled'1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van [211 Appl. No.:225,408 Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson 521 US. 1121. 23/277 C,23/288 F, 43/212, A A

60/286, 60/298, 60/303 Anti-pollution control especially relevant tointernal [5 ombustion engines involves producing intense on- [58] Flewof Search 23/277 288 F; 423/2125 suming heat in a combustion tube,delivering engine 60/286, 298, 303 exhaust gases into preheatingrelation to the outside of the tube wall, directing the preheatedexhaust gases References Clted into the tubeand therein subjecting thegases to the UNITED STATES PATENTS consuming heat and effecting completecombustion of 2,203,554 6 1940 Uhri et al 23 277 0 Combustible materialentrained in the g and 3,059,420 10 1962 Schnabel 23/288 FX na yreceiving the p y. u d out exhaust 3,254,963 6/1966 Leistntz 23/277 Cgases from the tube in an expansion and muffle cham- 3,285,709 1 1/1966Ennarino ct al. 23/277 C be! and releasing them to atmosphere. 3,360,927l/l968 Cornelius 23/277 C UX 3,380,410 4/1968 Venable 23 277 C ox 17Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ANTI-POLLUTION EXHAUST BURNER AND MUFFLER FORINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES This invention relates to pollution controlin general and is more particularly concerned with treatment of exhaustgases from internal combustion engines.

Internal combustion engines are notoriously inefficient in convertingliquid fossil fuels into energy. The speeds at which such engines arerequired to operate and the rate at which the liquid fuel must beconverted from liquid to combustible vapor by carburetion or fuelinjection, leaves undesirable quantities of unburned hydrocarbons andcarbon monoxide in the exhaust gases. incompletely burned combustibleconstituents of the gases are especially prevalent during cold startingof the engines and in short run operation of the engines such as incommon usage of automotive vehicles equipped with internal combustionengines. Due to the proliferation of automotive vehicles and thepollution problems inherent in such proliferation, stringent pollutioncontrol laws and regulations are being promulgated and enforced.

Another common problem in the operation of automotive vehicles equippedwith internal combustion engines is that of condensate in especially theexhaust muffler system. Corrosion, deterioration and failure are commonexperience in automobile mufflers in particular from this cause.

An important object of the present invention is to overcome theforegoing and other disadvantages, defects, inefficiencies,shortcomings, and problems in the handling of internal combustion engineexhaust.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and I improved meansfor completing the combustion of consumable constituents of internalcombustion engine exhaust gases.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for handling engine exhaust in automotive vehicles.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus for eliminating combustible pollutants from internalcombustion engine exhaust gases.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improvedcombination afterbumer and muffler apparatus for internal combustionengine exhaust systems.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedanti-pollution system for internal engine exhaust which can bemanufactured and sold economically, is simple, easy and economical tooperate, functions efficiently and reliably, and provides long-lived,trouble-free service.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, althoughvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thespirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially schematic, of apparatus embodyingfeatures of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view, partially in section, showing detailsof the fuel mixing chamber structure for the exhaust gas burner of thedevice;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational detail view takensubstantially along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail view taken substantially alongthe line IV-IV' of FIG. 3;

FIGS is an enlarged sectional detail view taken substantially along theline V-V of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially on theplane of line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

According to the present invention, incompletely burned combustiblematerial in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine areeliminated by burning the same before emission to atmosphere. Inaccomplishing this condensate accumulation in the system is avoided. Toattainment of these ends, the exhaust gases are conducted through apreheating zone, an intense combustion zone, and a muffling zone beforeemission to atmosphere. All of this is accomplished in respect toautomobile engine exhaust treatment in a unit 10 (FIG. 1) which can beaccommodated in a space on the order of that customarily occupied by theusual exhaust muffler. To this end, the unit 10 comprises a distributor11 within which exhaust gases are received from an exhaust pipe 12 anddistributed to a preheating chamber 13 within a tubular casing 14 withinwhich is mounted a combustion tube 15 leading to an expansion andmuffling chamber 17 on a downstream enlarged end portion 18 of thecasing 14 and from which the completely burned out exhaust gases arereleased to atmosphere.

In a desirable construction, the distributor 11 provides an initialmuffle stage and comprises a blind end tube which may be of about 2 /2inches outside diameter and from which lead a plurality of lateraldistributor ports 19 which may be in the form of tubular elongations onthe order of 1 5/16 inches outside diameter tubing located about 2inches on center and directing the exhaust gases from the distributorchamber into the preheating chamber 13 at a plurality of placestherealong spaced a substantial distance from the upstream end of thecasing 14 and the combustion tube 15 so that the exhaust gasessubdivided into a plurality of streams from the distributor will flowtowards and about the combustion tube 15 in an efficient preheatingrelation.

In a preferred construction, the housing or casing tube 14 is ofnormally open ended form having the major smaller diameter portionthereof about 3 3/4 inches outside diameter and a length of about 12inches, with the larger diameter portion 18 adding another approximately6 3/4 inches for a total of 17 inches to 18 inches. With a total widthof the device inclusive of the manifold tube 11 and the housing tube 14of about 8 /zinches maintains the basic outside dimensions of the devicereasonably within space occupancy relation to better grade automobilemufflers. It will be understood, of course, that specific dimensions arenot intended as limiting but only as illustrative and to demonstratethat practical realities have been considered in devising the device. Atits upstream end, the housing tube 14 is closed for operation by meanscomprising a removable closure plate 20 secured as by means of screws 21to an annular radially outwardly extending integral attachment flange 22on the housing tube.

Construction and relationship of the combustion tube 15 to the housingtube 14 within which it is operatively mounted, is such that not only isefficient preheating of the exhaust gases from the distributor l1provided for, but successive muffling is accomplished as well as theimportant complete combustion of unburned constituents of the gases. Forthis purpose, the combustion tube 15 is of a diameter as large aspracticable for burning treatment of the exhaust gases therewithin, butof sufficiently smaller differential diameter than the inside diameterof the housing tube 14 to provide an efficient capacity annular spacefor the chamber 13. For this purpose, the outside diameter of the tube15 may be about 2 /2inches where the inside diameter of the tube 14 isabout 3 5/8 inches. Assembly of the tube within the tube 14 isfacilitated by constructing the combustion tube and conformance of thedevice carried thereby as a cartridge adapted to be installed, orremoved, from either or both ends of the housing tube 14. In length, thetube 15 is such as to be fully contained within the tube 14 and theexpansion chamber enlargement 18 and is desirably slightly shorter sothat at its upstream, inlet end, the tube 15 can be adequately spacedfrom the enclosure 20 for reception thereinto of exhaust gases from thechamber 13, generally indicated by the directional arrows in FIGS. 1 and4. Lateral, substantially concentric spacing of the tube 15 within thetube 14 is effected at the upstream end of the assembly by means such asa spider 23 in the form of a disk plate carried by the upstream end ofthe tube 15 and having. an equally circumferentially spaced plurality,herein four, radial spacer arms 24 which engage the inner wall definingthe tube 14, with the principal diameter of the plate 23 substantiallythe same as the outside diameter of the tube 15. In this instance, theplate 23 provides a separable, perforated dispersion of spreader screento assure reasonably uniform entry of the exhaust gases to be treatedinto the tube 15. Within the general parameters of the illustrativedevice, the body of the plate 23 may efficientlybe provided with twohundred 1/8 inch diameter screen perforation holes 25 therethrough. Inaddition to its spreader screen function, the plate 23 serves as aretainer for a mass of coarsely particulate flow stabilizing andpreheating material 27 filled into the tube 15 between the plate 23 andan inwardly spaced dispersion or spreader screen plate 28 which is alsoprovided with the perforation holes 25, desirably of the same size andnumber as in the plate 23. The material 27 may be of any suitable stablevariety for the purpose, hard coral, seashell and stainless steelshavings of about l/4 inch particle size having been found satisfactory,by way of example. The cartridge space between the plates 23 and 28accommodating the material 27 may be about 3 inches or less in length.

For maintaining the plates 23 and 28 in place, they are mounted on anaxial rod 29 extending through the plates, the plate 23 being relativelyaxially slidably assembled with the rod and the plate 28 being desirablyfixedly secured thereto as by means of welding 30. At its outerperimeter, the plate 28 engages slidably with the inside wall surface ofthe tube 15. This enables the plate 28 to be mounted with the rod 29serving as a stem by introducing the same into the tube 15 from theupstream or entry end of the tube. After the plate 28 has been insertedto the desired distance within the tube 15, the material 27 can befilled into the cartridge chamber therefor, whereafter the plate 23 isassembled onto an axially outward extension of the stem rod 29 andagainst the end of the tube 15, with means such as a releasable collar31 then secured on and about the outer end portion of the stem rod 29and against the plate 23 and fastened as by means of a set screw 32.

In addition to its supporting function, the stem rod 29 serves as partof combustion heat producing means within the tube 15. To this end, thestem rod 29 is in the form of a fuel mixing turbine tube throughout itslength and provided intermediately therein with a plurality of fixedturbine blades 33 such as three about l/4 inch long within a 7/16 inchdiameter tubular passage 34. At its outer end, the tube 29 is adapted toengage against the closure plate 20 which has a coaxially alignedaperture 35 through which extends a nipple 37 threadedly engaged intothe adjacent end of the tube 29 and thereby supporting on the closureplate 20 an air and fuel vapor mixing chamber'38 having an outwardlyconvex base wall 39 through which the nipple extends and is fixedlysecured as by welding 40. Securing of the nipple 37 to the tube 29,thereby not only draws the end of the tube 29 releasably against theplate 20, but also draws the base wall 39 toward and into bottomedengagement with the plate 20.

Air and fuel are supplied to the chamber 38 through its end opposite tothe base wall 39 through an inlet nipple 41 having secured thereto bysuitable coupling 42 the delivery end of a venturi tube 43 to thereceiving end of which-is connected a compressed air supply duct 44 towhich air under pressure is supplied from a suitable compressor or pump45. Fuel is aspirated into the sideof the tube 43 by venturi structure47 therein from a fuel tank 48 which may be the fuel tank of theassociated vehicle connected to the venturi tube 43 through a duct 49.Fuel and air are thus driven into the mixing chamber 38 and thencepasses into the nipple 37 through an inlet orifice 50 which is desirablyslightly smaller in diameter than the funnel of the venturi 47 toprovide a desirable pressure drop and velocity within the turbine tubepassage 34 for optimum vaporization and gasification of the fueldiffused in the air and delivered from the inner end of the turbine tubeinto a combustion chamber 52 within which the air-fuel mixture isignited as by means of a spark plug 53. By having the chamber 52 securedas by means of welding 54 to the turbine tube 29, direct heat transfer,as well as radiant heat transfer, is effective to heat the tube, as wellas the plate 28 and the material 27 not only to preheat and improve theefficiency of the air fuel mixture. but also to improve the preheatingof the exhaust gases as they advance into and through the combustiontube 15, first through the body of material 27 and then in heat transferrelation to the wall defining the combustion chamber 52 from which heatis radiated to and heats the wall of the tube 15 along which thecombustion gases are caused to travel toward the entry end of thecombustion tube.

Mounting of the spark plug 53 is effected through an opening 55 in thewall of the housing tube 14 aligned with an opening 57 in the combustiontube 15 and an opening 58 in the wall of the combustion chamber 52 intowhich the firing end portion of the spark plug is threadedly engaged.Desirably a packing gland 59 is secured about the spark plug to seal thehousing tube opening 55. This arrangement also has the advantage ofmaintaining the tube 15 and the assembly including the combustionchamber 52 in proper relative axial position relative to one another andto the housing tube 14 by virtue of the spark plug 53 serving as aconnector.

Sparking potential for the spark plug 53 is provided by connecting intothe ignition system of the associated vehicle. To this end, a coil 60 isconnected into line 61 between ignition coil 62 and distributor 63 andis connected by a lead line 64 to the spark plug 53. By having not onlythe spark plug 53 but also the pump 4-5 activated by starting of thevehicle engine, prompt operation of the burner system is attained.Experience has shown that ignition of the flame in the burner system canbe accomplished is about five seconds after the engine is started, andthen will continue operating as long as the vehicle engine operates. Anymoisture or condensate in the exhaust is promptly vaporized because thecombination muffler and burner device rapidly heats up in the path whichthe exhaust gases must travel within the chamber 13 and then within thecombustion tube 15.

As will be observed in FIG. 4, after the exhaust gases pass downstreamfrom the spreader plate 28, they must pass the casing which provides thecombustion chamber 52 and which although it is of smaller outsidediameter than the inside diameter of the tube provides a baffle bulge inthe path of the on-flowing exhaust gases stream causing the stream totravel a reduced cross sectional area annular subpassage 65 between thetube 15 and the chamber 52 attaining improved heat transfer preheatingof the exhaust stream flowing past the combustion chamber. Beyond thecombustion chamber, the exhaust gases stream passes through a dispersionor spreader plate screen 67 which is provided with holes 25 similar insize and number to the holes in the upstream spreader screen plates. Theplate 67 is in sliding fit at its outer perimeter with the tube 15 andis secured as by means of welding 68 to and about an elongated flamenozzle 69 leading from the combustion chamber 52 and having a flaringmouth 70 opening into a flame subchamber 71 between the plate 67 and asimilar dispersion spreader screen plate 72 spaced a sufficient distancedownstream from the nozzle mouth 70 to accommodate ,a receiving mouth 73of a flame runner tube 74 concentric with the nozzle 69 but of slightlysmaller diameter and with the flaring mouths 711 and 73 spaced apartsufficiently to enable flame to spread from the nozzle mouth 70 intofairly uniform, burning relation to the exhaust gases stream passingthrough the subchamber 71. A central core of the flame discharging fromthe nozzle mouth 70 enters the flame runner tube 74 and travelsdownstream therethrough. In the exemplified device, a gap of about 3/4inch between the flaring mouths 7t) and 73 has been found effective. Adesirable size differential between the nozzle tube 69 and the flamerunner tube 74 may be 9/16 inch inside diameter for the nozzle and 9/64inch inside diameter for the flame runner tube.

After leaving the subchamber 71 through perforations 25 in the spreaderscreen plate 72, the flame treated exhaust gases are passed through aseries of additional perforated dispersion spreader screen disk plates75, 77, 78, 79 and 80 successively spaced downstream from one anotherand having the tube 74 extending therethrough. Each of the spreaderscreen disk plates has the same pattern of similarly dimensioned holes25 therethrough as in the screen disk plates upstream therefrom so thatthere is highly efficient dispersion and spreading of the exhaust gasesaccompanied by efficient muffling. Between certain of the screen disksalong the flame runner tube 74 sufficiently downstream from thesubchamber 71 to provide for efficient booster burning of the exhaustgases, flame from the runner tube is released therefrom into the exhaustgases stream to complete burning of any possible in completely burnedconstituents that may have escaped therewith from the primary burningsubchamber 71. To this end, the flame runner tube 74 is provided with aset of flame ports 81 desirably in two groups equally disposed about theperimeter thereof in two contiguous sections of the tube and openinginto respective rela tively short subchambers 82 and 83 betweenrespectively the screen disks 77 and 78 and 78 and 79. In a practicalarrangement four of the ports 81 open into the subchamber 82 and four ofthe ports 81 open into the subchamber 83. At its downstream end asubstan tial distance beyond the ports 81, the tube 74 is blindended, asfor example by securing to such end as by means of welding 8 1, theinner end of an attachment rod 85 which has its outer end secured as bymeans of riveting 87 to an end closure plate 88 of the same diameter asthe tube 15 and extending across its downstream terminal end. Spacedinwardly from the imperforate closure plate 88 is desirably a finalperforated spreader screen plate 89. All of the screen plates along thetube 76 and the rod 85 are secured to the tube and rod as a unit, as bymeans of welding 90, and have their outer diameters in sliding fit withthe inside diameter of the tube 15 so that they can be inserted into thetube as a unit with the flame runner tube and rod and the end closureplate 88.

At the downstream end portion of the tube 15, the now fully burned outexhaust gases are permitted to expand and are then discharged toatmosphere. To this end, in an area or subchamber 91 between the lasttwo screen disks and 89 in the series, the clean exhaust gases arepermitted .to leave the combustion tube 15 through a perforatedlongitudinal area of the tube which, in the illustrated instance, may beon the order of 2 inches long. Such area of the tube is uniformly perforated to provide an exhaust'screenwherein perforations 92 may be onthe order of 1/16 inch in diameter. There may, for example, be on theorder of eleven hundred of the perforations 92, enabling fairly rapidexpansion of the gases outwardly throughout the radial extent of thesubchamber 91. To enhance the expansibility of the gases entering thesubchamber 91, a blind end muf fler chamber 93 is desirably providedbetween the clo sure plate 88 and the screen disk 89, accommodating anysurges of the gas and assuring smooth, quiet emission from the exhaustend of the combustion tube system.

Combustion efficiency attainable with the present system is demonstratedby the fact that temperature sensing tests in the subchamber 91 haverevealed an average of about 800F. under normal operating conditions. Toreduce the emission temperature, expansion and cooling of the exhaustgases leaving the subchamber 91 are provided for. To this end, theexpansion chamber 17 within the housing tube enlargement 18 is ofgenerous annular volume capacity and preferably has heat transfer meanstherein cooperating with the metal shell of the expanded housing tubeportion 18 to dissipate heat by direct heat transfer and radiation tothe ambient atmosphere and more particularly the customary air streampassing thereby in the forward movement of the associated vehicle byvirtue of the free exposure of the device in the customarymufflermounting place under-the rear portion of the associated vehiclebody. Of course, where the device is employed on some other type ofvehicle than an automobile or truck, such as on a diesel locomotive,thedevice may be mounted in any suitable air stream location such as onthe locomotive roof. Where used in association with a stationaryinternal combustion engine, the device may be located at a suitableoutdoor location in a blower exhaust duct.

On leaving the exhaust chamber 91, the expanding exhaust gases aredesirably conducted in a circuitous expanding path not only for coolingheat transfer but also for final muffling before release to atmosphere.For this purpose, means comprising an exhaust reversal cone 94 (FIGS. 1and 5) is mounted concentrically about the tube chamber 91 within theexpansion chamber 17 and provides an imperforate annular wall whichflares in spaced relation upstream relative to the tube and is of alength somewhat greater than the length of the perforated area of thetube 15 about the chamber 91 so that the exhaust gases leaving thecombustion tube through the perforations 92 will be expansively guidedupstream for further expansion in the chamber 17. In a desirableconstruction, the reversal cone 94 extends inwardly to a radial closurering 95 secured to the housing tube 14 at juncture with an annularfrustoconical offset 97 with the expansion chamber enlargement 18 andhaving its inner edge in sliding engagement with the tube 15 to providea barrier between the preheating chamber 13 and the exhaust expansionchamber 17. For free expansion of the exhaust gases from the inner endportion of the reversal cone, the wall of such inner end portion isprovided with a plurality, such as four large equidistantly'circumferentially spaced expansion openings 98 through which theexpanding exhaust gases can freely move in substantially equalizedlateral expansion into the expansion chamber 17.

From the inner end portion of the expansion chamber 17, the exhaustgases are conducted outwardly in an expanding annular flow path aboutthe reversal cone 94 within the expansion chamber enlargement 18. Forprimarily heat exchange, but also for muffling, a fill of coarseparticulate material 99 is desirably contained in the exhaust flow pathin the outermost portion of the chamber 17. Such material may be similarto the material 27 at the preheating end of the combustion tube 15,namely, hard coral, seashell, stainless steel shavings, and the like,coarse enough to be retained between a pair of axially spaced radiallyextending ring-shaped perforated screen disks 100 and 101 which aresecured by means such as welding 102 to the outer perimeter of thereversal cone 94. At their perimeters, the disks 100 and 101 aredesirably dimensioned to have sliding engagement with the inner surfaceof the housing enlargement 18. While the material 99 may be filled inbetween the disks 100 and 101 and the cone 94 and the shell of thehousing portion 18, the preferred construction comprises enclosing thematerial in cartridge form enabling insertion or removal of the cone 94and the cartridge as a unit, and for this purpose a retaining ringsleeve 103 is preferably secured to and between the outer margins of thedisks and 101. Through this 6 Means are provided on the cone 94 forreceiving and supporting the adjacent end of the combustion tube 15 andfor securing the cone in place in the expansion chamber enlargement 18.To this end, the outer end portion of the cone 94 carries either as anintegral stamped sheet metal portion thereof, or, as shown, as aseparately formed and attached member, a generally cup-shaped outer endclosure and combustion tube receiving socket 104. The member 104 may besecured to the end of the cone as by means of welding 102. By having thesocket provided by the number 104 properly dimensioned, the adjacent endof the tube 15 is received slidably therein. Releasable attachment ofthe cone unit against outward displacement from the expansion chamber 17is effected by means, comprising in this instance a plurality, such asfour equally circumferentially spaced attachment angles 105 secured asby means of welding to the marginal flange of the end closure socketmember 104 and dimensioned to engage slidably within the outer endmargin of the housing portion 18 to which the attachment angles arereleasably secured as by means of screws 107. Through this arrangement,not only is the cone member 94 retained in place, but the tube 15 isretained against outward displacement and the closure disk 88 ismaintained in closing relation to the contiguous end of the tube 15against any tendency toward displacement of the disk and flame runnerassembly from the tube 15. In addition, the assembly of parts ismaintained neatly within the outer end of the housing portion 18. Byhaving the attachment angles 105 widely spaced, such as quadrantly,there is minimum interference with free exhaust of gases to atmospherethrough the endmost perforated disk 101.

All components of the unit 10 which lend themselves to sheet metalfabrication are desirably made from suitable heat-resistant material,for example sheet metal on the order of H16 inch thickness. Although theexpansion chamber portion 18 of the housing is desirably exposed toatmosphere to enhance heat transfer and cooling of the expandedexhausting gases, it may be desirable to insulate the housing tube 14upstream from the portion 18 against heat loss so as to gain everypossible advantage of the preheating and combustion of the exhaust gaseswithin the unit. Accordingly, the tube 14 inboard relative to theportion 18 may be covered with heat insulation 108. Such insulation may,if desired, also be applied to the initial stage muffler and distributor11 and the distributor ducts 19.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts ofthis invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for eliminating incompletely burned combustible material inthe exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

means defining a combustion zone;

means for delivering the engine exhaust gases into preheating relationto said combustion zone; means for directing the preheated exhaust gasesinto the combustion zone;

means in said combustion zone for subjecting the exhaust gases tomultiple flame treatment by successive stages to attain completecombustion of the combustible materials in the gases; and

means providing an expansion zone for the completely burned exhaustgases and discharging to atmosphere.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means defining acombustion zone comprises an elongated combustion tube, said multipleflame treatment means comprising a flame generator having a nozzledischarging into the exhaust gases flowing through the combustion tube,and a flame runner tube mounted within said combustion tube and having areceiving mouth spaced downstream relative to said nozzle to receiveflame from the nozzle, and flame discharge ports in said flame runnertube for directing flame from the flame runner tube into the exhaustgases in the combustion tube downstream from the flame nozzle.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the multiple flame treatmentmeans comprise a flame generator having a nozzle discharging into thecombustion zone, and a flame runner tube mounted within said combus tionzone and having a receiving mouth spaced downstream relative to saidnozzle to receive flame from the nozzle, and flame discharge ports insaid flame runner tube for directing flame from the flame runner tubeinto the exhaust gases in the combustion zone downstream from the flamenozzle.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said runner tube has the portsat spaced intervals therealong, and further including exhaust gasdispersion disks mounted on and external to said flame runner tube andmounted between said ports and through which disks the exhaust gases aredirected.

5. A device for eliminating incompletely burned combustible material inthe exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

means for producing intense comsuming heat in a combustion zone; meansfor delivering the engine exhaust gases into preheating relation to saidcombustion zone;

means for directing the preheated exhaust gases into the combustion zonefor subjecting the gases to the consuming heat therein for completecombustion of the combustible materials in the gases;

means providing an expansion zone chamber for the completely burnedexhaust gases and having a discharge to atmosphere and including heattransfer cooling means in said expansion chamber;

said combustion zone including a combustion tube extending into saidexpansion zone chamber;

said tube having a perforated area for escape of burned out exhaustgases from the combustion tube; and

an exhaust reversal cone spaced in coaxial relation about saidperforated section of the combustion tube and providing a tortuous pathwith said expansion chamber means.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said means providing theexpansion zone chamber comprise a tubular enlargement about saidperforated area of the combustion tube, said enlargement having the heattransfer cooling means therein.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said heat transfer coolingmeans comprise an annular cartridge about said exhaust reversal cone,said cartridge being filled with a coarse particulate material.

8. A device according to claim 5, including muffling means about saidreversal cone in said expansion zone chamber.

9. A device for treating exhaust from an internal combustion engine,comprising:

means defining a muffle chamber and distributor receptive of theexhaust;

an elongated tubular housing;

a plurality of passages effecting communication between said means andan area intermediate the length of said housing;

a tube extending longitudinally in spaced relation within said housing;

a combustion flame system within said tube and means for generatingflame in the system;

a barrier within the housing between said tube and the housingcompelling exhaust. flow from said passages to travel toward one end ofsaid tube;

said end of the tube being receptive of the exhaust to travel throughthe tube toward its opposite end portion and thereby subjected to theflame of said system;

dispersion means located at several longitudinally spaced intervalsalong the interior of the tube past which the exhaust must travel;

means carried by the housing at the opposite side of said barrier fromsaid passages providing an expansion chamber and escape to atmospherefor exhaust leaving said opposite end portion of the tube;

said dispersion means comprising a series of axially spaced perforatedspreader screen disks having their edges in sliding fit within saidtube; and

elongated stem means connecting the screen disks and enabling unitaryinsertion and removal of the screen disks relative to the tube.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said stem means comprise atubular element of said combustion flame system.

ill. A device according to claim 9, wherein said stem means have animperforate disk thereon beyond said screen disks, said imperforate diskproviding an end closure for said tube, said tube having lateral exhaustports therefrom ahead of said closure disk.

12. A device for eliminating incompletely burned combustible material inthe exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an elongated combustion tube of substantial diameter;

a housing tube enclosing said combustion tube in spaced relationthereto;

a closure means across one end of said housing tube in spaced relationto one end of said combustion tube;

means for delivering engine exhaust gases into preheating relation tosaid combustion tube within the space between the tubes and meanslocated adjacent said one end of said combustion tube directing thepreheated exhaust gases into said combustion tube;

a fuel delivery tube of smaller diameter than said combustion chambertube extending through said closure means into said one end of saidcombustion tube and delivering into a combustion chamber located withinsaid combustion tube at a position downstream from said preheatedexhaust gas directing means and having a diameter larger than saiddelivery tube but of smaller diameter than said combustion tube andabout which the preheated exhaust travel in further preheating relation;

means in said combustion chamber for igniting the fuel;

said combustion chamber having a discharge orifice directed downstreamwithin the combustion tube;

a plurality of longitudinally spaced dispersion disks located downstreamfrom said orifice within said combustion tube and through which theburning combustion gases must pass toward the opposite end of saidcombustion tube;

means closing said opposite endof the combustion tube and the combustiontube having laterally opening perforations therefrom upstream of saidclosing means; and

means defining an expansion and exhaust chamber about said combustiontube to receive the exhaust gases from said perforations.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said means for deliveringexhaust gases comprise a tubular manifold having a plurality of lateraldistributor ports therealong communicating through said housing tubewith said space between the combustion and housing tubes and directedtoward said combustion tube substantially downstream from said one endof the combustion tube so that combustion gases entering into said spacemust travel in preheating relation a substantial distance along thecombustion tube to said one end.

14. A device according to claim 12, including a body of particulate flowdispersion and preheating material filling the space between saiddelivery tube and the combustion tube between said one end of thecombustion tube and said combustion chamber.

ing chamber from which the orifice receives the fuel-air mixture.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means defining acombustion zone comprises an elongated combustion tube, said multipleflame treatment means comprising a flame generator having a nozzledischarging into the exhaust gases flowing through the combustion tube,and a flame runner tube mounted within said combustion tube and having areceiving mouth spaced downstream relative to said nozzle to receiveflame from the nozzle, and flame discharge ports in said flame runnertube for directing flame from the flame runner tube into the exhaustgases in the combustion tube downstream from the flame nozzle.
 3. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the multiple flame treatment meanscomprise a flame generator having a nozzle discharging into thecombustion zone, and a flame runner tube mounted within said combustionzone and having a receiving mouth spaced downstream relative to saidnozzle to receive flame from the nozzle, and flame discharge ports insaid flame runner tube for directing flame from the flame runner tubeinto the exhaust gases in the combustion zone downstream from the flamenozzle.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said runner tube hasthe ports at spaced intervals therealong, and further including exhaustgas dispersion disks mounted on and external to said flame runner tubeand mounted between said ports and through which disks the exhaust gasesare directed.
 5. A device for eliminating incompletely burnedcombustible material in the exhaust gases from an internal combustionengine, comprising: means for producing intense comsuming heat in acombustion zone; means for delivering the engine exhaust gases intopreheating relation to said combustion zone; means for directing thepreheated exhaust gases into the combustion zone for subjecting thegases to the consuming heat therein for complete combustion of thecombustible materials in the gases; means providing an expansion zonechamber for the completely burned exhaust gases and having a dischargeto atmosphere and including heat transfer cooling means in saidexpansion chamber; said combustion zone including a combustion tubeextending into said expansion zone chamber; said tube having aperforated area for escape of burned out exhaust gases from thecombustion tube; and an exhaust reversal cone spaced in coaxial relationabout said perforated section of the combustion tube and providing atortuous path with said expansion chamber means.
 6. A device accordingto claim 5, wherein said means providing the expansion zone chambercomprise a tubular enlargement about said perforated area of thecombustion tube, said enlargement having the heat transfer cooling meanstherein.
 7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said heat transfercooling means comprise an annular cartridge about said exhaust reversalcone, said cartridge being filled with a coarse particulate material. 8.A device accOrding to claim 5, including muffling means about saidreversal cone in said expansion zone chamber.
 9. A device for treatingexhaust from an internal combustion engine, comprising: means defining amuffle chamber and distributor receptive of the exhaust; an elongatedtubular housing; a plurality of passages effecting communication betweensaid means and an area intermediate the length of said housing; a tubeextending longitudinally in spaced relation within said housing; acombustion flame system within said tube and means for generating flamein the system; a barrier within the housing between said tube and thehousing compelling exhaust flow from said passages to travel toward oneend of said tube; said end of the tube being receptive of the exhaust totravel through the tube toward its opposite end portion and therebysubjected to the flame of said system; dispersion means located atseveral longitudinally spaced intervals along the interior of the tubepast which the exhaust must travel; means carried by the housing at theopposite side of said barrier from said passages providing an expansionchamber and escape to atmosphere for exhaust leaving said opposite endportion of the tube; said dispersion means comprising a series ofaxially spaced perforated spreader screen disks having their edges insliding fit within said tube; and elongated stem means connecting thescreen disks and enabling unitary insertion and removal of the screendisks relative to the tube.
 10. A device according to claim 9 whereinsaid stem means comprise a tubular element of said combustion flamesystem.
 11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said stem means havean imperforate disk thereon beyond said screen disks, said imperforatedisk providing an end closure for said tube, said tube having lateralexhaust ports therefrom ahead of said closure disk.
 12. A device foreliminating incompletely burned combustible material in the exhaustgases from an internal combustion engine, comprising: an elongatedcombustion tube of substantial diameter; a housing tube enclosing saidcombustion tube in spaced relation thereto; a closure means across oneend of said housing tube in spaced relation to one end of saidcombustion tube; means for delivering engine exhaust gases intopreheating relation to said combustion tube within the space between thetubes and means located adjacent said one end of said combustion tubedirecting the preheated exhaust gases into said combustion tube; a fueldelivery tube of smaller diameter than said combustion chamber tubeextending through said closure means into said one end of saidcombustion tube and delivering into a combustion chamber located withinsaid combustion tube at a position downstream from said preheatedexhaust gas directing means and having a diameter larger than saiddelivery tube but of smaller diameter than said combustion tube andabout which the preheated exhaust travel in further preheating relation;means in said combustion chamber for igniting the fuel; said combustionchamber having a discharge orifice directed downstream within thecombustion tube; a plurality of longitudinally spaced dispersion diskslocated downstream from said orifice within said combustion tube andthrough which the burning combustion gases must pass toward the oppositeend of said combustion tube; means closing said opposite end of thecombustion tube and the combustion tube having laterally openingperforations therefrom upstream of said closing means; and meansdefining an expansion and exhaust chamber about said combustion tube toreceive the exhaust gases from said perforations.
 13. A device accordingto claim 12, wherein said means for delivering exhaust gases comprise atubular manifold having a plurality of lateral distributor portstherealong communicating through said housing tube with said spacebetween the combustion and housing tubes and directEd toward saidcombustion tube substantially downstream from said one end of thecombustion tube so that combustion gases entering into said space musttravel in preheating relation a substantial distance along thecombustion tube to said one end.
 14. A device according to claim 12,including a body of particulate flow dispersion and preheating materialfilling the space between said delivery tube and the combustion tubebetween said one end of the combustion tube and said combustion chamber.15. A device according to claim 12, said fuel delivery tube havingturbine blades therein.
 16. A device according to claim 15, includingmeans for supplying air and fuel mixture under pressure to said fueldelivery tube including a pressure drop inlet orifice opening into thefuel delivery tube.
 17. A device according to claim 16, including amixing chamber from which the orifice receives the fuel-air mixture.